Are the days of simple, basic – and relatively cheap – camping in our national parks coming to a close?
Certainly, recent moves by the Queensland Government to allow tourism some development in that state’s parks will change the ‘experience’ … the only question that remains is ‘by how much?’
When the government there unveiled its plans for eco-tourism, the concept of glamorous camping and luxury cabins were very much on the agenda..
And National Parks Minister Steve Dickson and Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey said they will be prepared to look at every proposal when it comes to assessing what to let into national parks as part of a plan to drive eco-tourism.
Clearly though, ‘soft’ options, such as smaller-scale accommodation facilities, and low-impact tourism activities, are likely to be the most favoured.
“We were a pioneer in eco-tourism,” Ms Stuckey said.”So part of our goal is not only to re-instate Queensland as the number one tourism destination but to make us number in one eco-tourism.”
While stressing that he was not “ruling anything in or ruling anything out”, Mr Dicksoon said the Government would proceed cautiously.
“It’s about what is going to be appropriate and what the community would like to see happen,” he said.
Industry group, the Queensland National Parks Association, has warned that opening parks up to eco-tourism could ruin the natural experience for generations to come. It also believes the plan will hurt towns on the fringes of national parks which rely on visitor expenditure.
The Queensland Government estimates visitors to national parks generate about $4.5 billion for the state economy each year, with 70% of the visitors drawn to 30 key parks,
The government’s plan for eco-tourism is now open for consultation.
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I thought Governments were elected for all the people. Not just a few with the big Dollars